Pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group Afenifere yesterday strongly denounced the attack on a farm last Saturday in Ipapo, Oke Ogun, Oyo State as well as other kidnappings in Osun, Kwara, Enugu, and Kaduna states, stating that it is time to arm state security forces.
According to a statement by Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jare Ajayi, the circumstances surrounding the attack and how the criminals managed to flee with their victims provide additional justifications for allowing security units established by state governments to be armed to the necessary level.
Ajayi stated: “Were Amotekun operatives to have equal arms, the attackers would not have escaped as Amotekun officials were able to prevent the terrorists from causing greater damage even with the limited weapons we carried. Were we to be allowed to carry sophisticated weapons that our assignment demands, the hoodlums would have met their Waterloo.”
The statement reads: “Questions can also be raised on how those bandits got the army uniforms and the sophisticated weapons they wield.
“It is on record that a lot of calls have gone to the federal government to allow states that are so desired to set up state and community police with all the necessary paraphernalia to enable them to maintain security in their respective domains. Among advocates of such calls were Afenifere, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State. Southern Governors’ Forum earlier in the year also backed the call for state police. President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has however turned a deaf ear to the calls.
“Last month, Governor Akeredolu and Afenifere openly protested the denial of South West Governors’ requests to arm their security outfit, Amotekun, with AK 47 riffles while conceding the same to the Katsina State Government.
“Were Amotekun to be allowed to carry needed weapons, bandits would think it twice before they contemplate coming to Yorubaland.
“Our governors and our leaders in Yorubaland are aware of the possible attacks, but we are helpless in a way because of the handicap placed on our path by the federal government through its refusal to allow our state governments to put up requisite security structures.”
However, he stressed that the Federal Government’s prolonged opposition “violates not only the federal spirit of the country’s constitution, but it also harms the general tranquility of the country.
“Some of the steps to be taken to immediately allow states to set up their police forces; decentralize security apparatus; equip and motivate security agencies; stop treating bandits and terrorists with kid gloves and finally allow true federalism so that states and local governments can devise appropriate measures to deal with the challenges facing them in all areas of human endeavour.
“As we write this, residents of Onibueja in Egbedore local government of Osun are living in fear following handwritten letters pasted in parts of the community by suspected armed robbers notifying the people of their intention to come and raid them within the month, according to the Baale (Head) of the community, Najeemdeen Alabi.
“The situation on the ground does not seem to support the assurance being given by Mr President. Thus, the government needs to do more.”
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